TSA Alert: Chicago-to-Amsterdam Flight – Testing Security With Mock “Bombs”
It seems that each and everyday we are reminded that we are living in a brave new world, a world were we have to be aware that not everyone likes the USA. Here’s yet another example of the reality that our TSA & Air Marshals face as part of their job. ABC News has reported that Dutch authorities have charged two men with “preparation of a terrorist attack.” The men were passengers on Sunday’s flight from Chicago to Amsterdam, United Airlines Flight 908.
Sponsored School(s)
Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al-Soofi of Detroit was allegedly carrying a suitcase that contained a cellphone taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottle, three cellphones taped together and several watches taped together. The men also had packed a box cutter and three large knives in their luggage.
“Suspicious items were located in checked luggage associated with two passengers on United Flight 908 from Chicago O’Hare to Amsterdam last night,”
U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials said in a statement Monday. The items are thought to be a dry run test to see if they could slip past TSA screeners, and be used as weapons in a future attack. One of the men was also carrying $7,000 in cash.
According to the AP & MSNBC News, Federal Air marshals were on the flight from Chicago to Amsterdam. Both US & Dutch authorities were notified about the travelers, and it seems that this is a great example of both cooperation between agencies within the US, and with international law enforcement as well. I’m sure we’ll here more about this in the hours & days to come.
Additional Information: